Hispanic Theological Initiative, day 2
Today was my second full dat at the HTI. I sat/attended a writing workshop all day. Though I have finished my first year of study, I found some of the information helpful. Largely, I found it helpful to talk about and talk thru some of the anxiety I have around writing. The facilitator of the workshop is an African-American/Black scholar and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. I think he is very good at teaching methods of relaxation, and I am learning I should incorporate this stuff into my writing process. I should also sign up for a Yoga class! All in all, it was a really good day. It was long, but it was good.
Part of my day was spent, like the past several days have been, visiting with some of the other Doctoral Fellows. And, that means that I have the opportunity to share my story and listen to others. It goes a little like this:
I am first generation everything…the end.
I find that many others who are Doctoral Fellow are also in this position. As one of the HTI staff members mentioned to me yesterday, “the whole world is riding on your success, Robyn.” That is how I feel in so many ways. There is a lot of pressure to do well, to succeed, to represent my family in meaningful ways. I hope I do a good job!
Another part of the day was getting to know Jonathan Pimentel Chacón. He is also a Doctoral Fellow who has just moved from Costa Rica to Chicago to study at Lutheran School of Theology. I have found our conversations to be rich and insightful. I have really enjoyed getting to know him and talk with him about politics and theology and music! Likewise, Julián Andres Gonzalez, who will be studying at SMU this year, and I have had some opportunity to talk and visit. He is from Colombia, and will study Old Testament. I think though the best conversation I had today happened this morning at the breakfast table. I was talking with Melissa Rubalcaba, and we were discussing issues of belonging. She will start in the fall at Emory studying Ethics & Society. She and I both exchanged how we have struggled to belong in the Academy and the Latin@ community. I was surprised to hear that she has struggled with belonging, since she is much darker than I. Alas, she brought some of these issues to the table, and I am grateful.
This evening was power-packed with a lecture from Michael Lee (HTI fellow and graduate of Notre Dame) and Gustavo Gutierrez, author of A Theology of Liberation. Though I am beginning to pull away from the identity of theologian, it was wonderful to hear Gustavo speak. There is still so much I have to learn about the Borderlands and a liberationist paradigm/method.
Following the evening lecture (which, I might add, was called the HTI Book Prize), a group of us headed back to get some beers. This time, I sat with a new group of people which included Michael Lee, Victor Carmona, and 2 others. There were 4 of us at the table doing Ethics–some Catholic Social Thought, Virtue type stuff, and me: queer ethics. Again, it was amazing! I continue to enjoy my time here at Princeton, and the people I am meeting! Latin@s, I am finding, are fucking amazing! I am learning that there is a place for me at the table, and that I belong. Soon I will learn who my mentor will be. I have hopes for one faculty member in particular (a name I will not mention on the site). But, its a weird “dating” system of mentor/mentees, so I have NO clue with whom I will be paired. Regardless, it will be good. I am thinking that it will all be good!
It is late here–after 1 AM. I must head to bed because a long day awaits me! Peter and I lead worship tomorrow! GREAT! Saludos, R.
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